Early in his Oilers career, Dan Pastorini took a fearsome beating. The teams in his second and third seasons, 1972-73, won just two of 28 games, and Pastorini's pass protection those years was grossly inadequate.

But he was a quarterback with a linebacker's mentality. He prided himself on his toughness, on playing through the pain.

Neither cracked ribs nor multiple concussions kept him out of the huddle. He swears his medical records show he had a dozen of the latter.

"I've heard for years about guys getting out of the game because they've had two or three concussions," he said. "I'm thinking, 'Well, Jesus, I've had 12 — that I know of.' "

At 61, he fears he's starting to pay for them. And genetics aren't on his side, either. Pastorini's mother died of Alzheimer's in 1998.

"I've noticed a shortness of memory that concerns me," Pastorini said. "In a crowded place, I sometimes go blank on names. Even if I'm with friends, it's like, 'Wait a second … Who are these people?' I really have to focus. If I know I'm going to be introducing people to each other, I have to give myself a preliminary pep talk, so I don't forget the names."

His concerns prompted him to recently visit the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, Calif. Dr. Daniel Amen is a prominent psychiatrist and brain-imaging specialist who generously offers free diagnostic testing for former NFL players. Fortunately, brain scans didn't indicate Pastorini had major issues, but the clinic started him on an aggressive, "high-dose" vitamin-therapy program that promotes neurological health. It also gave him a diet to follow.

And, once and for all, he has quit drinking. He's still dealing with a DWI charge from last spring.

"I've lost 25 pounds, and I'm feeling better in every way," Pastorini said. "I'm grateful for the help. The Amen people were terrific. All our guys need to be aware of what they're doing."

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He's also hopeful the NFL, both the league's decision-makers and its current players, have woken up to the extent of the problem.

"A lot of us are in the same boat," Pastorini said. "At least we've gotten the attention of the (NFL) Players Association. They seem to be intent upon including us in the upcoming (labor) negotiations. Our 'medical benefits' are a sham. And for all them to just now start worrying about head injuries is hypocritical. They've known about this for years and they've buried their heads in the sand, playing a waiting game as we die off.

"But because of the awareness that has been created by the activist groups, the truth is coming out and can't be ignored anymore. … The image of the game can be improved tremendously by taking care of the people who made it what it is today."